Diamond BCA Pool League

8 Ball Local Rules Revision Date: 1/10/2017

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EACH TEAM AND PLAYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING THE RULES: BCA / BCAPL Rules govern all play for the league with the exception of the following: The

complete rules can be found at the BCA Website: http://www.playbca.com/

Inclement weather:

In the case of bad weather, snow, ice, etc., the decision as to whether to play matches that night will

be made by 3:00 P. M. that day and teams will be notified by email. There will be no set policy as

to whether we play or not, it will be contingence upon the conditions of that day.

Handicaps:

The league is a handicapped league that is designed to make all matches fair and equitable.

Established players have handicaps that carry over from one session to the next. New players will

enter the league with a handicap of 7 for men (5 for women) unless their game is known by league

members to be higher than that. After two weeks of play, the scoring software automatically

calculates all player handicaps with the same criteria. Handicaps will fluctuate during the season

depending on a player’s scores.

Skill Level Calculations:

On 4-Player team leagues the skill level (handicap) will be (normally) from a 3 to 10. This is

calculated by finding the total number of balls made, then dividing that number by the number of

Games Played. . (E.g., After 12 weeks of play a player has made 354 balls, it is divided by 48

games played = 7.375, rounded = 7).

Substitutions:

The easiest way to avoid substitutions is by having enough players on the team roster. Each team

may have up to 6 players on its roster. On any given week a team may use a maximum of 2

substitutions and must have at least 2 players from its roster or forfeit all 5 points for the match. A

Team that requires two subs must decide before the match to either forfeit for a missing

player or allow the opposing team to choose the 2nd

sub. Teams are not allowed to change to

forfeit for player after 2nd

sub is chosen by opposing team. Teams will follow standard practice

for acquiring subs.

If it is decided that a substitute will not be used, a score of 5 is entered in Joe’s place on the score

sheet for each game forfeited. The opposing players receive a 10 for each game against the forfeit.)

When computing handicaps for the match, the full Handicap of the substitute is used, instead of the

handicap of the missing player. When a forfeit is being used, the full handicap of the missing

player is used. The substitute must have an established ranking. A new member cannot sub for the

first two weeks.

If the missing player’s handicap is 8 or above, the Substitute Player’s handicap must be 1 point

below the handicap of the missing player, (not equal to or higher). If the missing player’s handicap

is 7 or lower, the Substitute may have the same handicap or 1 lower. If a (1) lower handicap player

is not available you go to the next lower ranking to find a player. You must choose a substitute

from the Handicap column of the Player Rank sheet. (Example: Joe has a handicap of 8. His team

may substitute someone with a handicap of 7 or lower. The same is true in reverse if a 4 handicap

Diamond BCA Pool League

8 Ball Local Rules Revision Date: 1/10/2017

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Substitutions (Cont): player needs to be subbed for and another player of equal or lower handicap is not available, then go

up to a 5.

If a Substitute player (i.e. one not on the team roster) is used to play for a missing player on a team,

the team is responsible for the weekly dues for the missing player. The Substitute must be a

sanctioned BCA member in good standing of a league (having paid the annual dues applicable to

the current session).

Players may only substitute on one team per week. This means they will play on their team and

may substitute on one other team if needed. A player who is NOT playing on their team may

substitute on two teams.

Penalty for illegal Substitution after match is played:

The illegal sub will received 5 points per game and the opposing team players will receive 10 points

per game against the illegal substitute.

Forfeits:

If a team is unable to field a team and play their match on any scheduled date, that Captain is

responsible to contact the opposing team Captain and try to reschedule the match within 10 days. If

a rematch cannot be rescheduled, the team unable to field a team forfeits the match and receives

zero (0) round points. The team that was able to field a team will receive five (5) round points as

their score. Individual points will not be afforded to either team.

Coaching:

Each player is allowed 2 coaching timeouts per game, regardless of their skill level or average.

Each of these timeouts will not exceed 1 minute in length. If the timeout length is over the one

minute allotted time the first offense is a warning and the following offenses will be a ball in

hand foul for the opponent. The player may call both timeouts. The coach may call a timeout

once during a game but the second timeout must be called by the player. If the coach calls both

timeouts the opponent may call a foul and receive ball in hand. Only one coach may approach the

table and it must be the same coach for both timeouts. The coach is the only person to speak

to the shooter. The coach cannot consult with other players / people during the timeout. This

violation will result in ball in hand for the opponent. A coach may not call a timeout to tell a

player a foul was committed by the opponent. Doing so is a foul and the opponent receives ball in

hand.

Rule Clarification:

The shooter may request a rule clarification prior to any shot by asking his opponent or both team

captains and is not charged with a timeout.

Match Play:

Only one match is played at a time unless prior arrangements have been made with the League

Director.

Diamond BCA Pool League

8 Ball Local Rules Revision Date: 1/10/2017

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Start Time of Match:

The start time for your match is the scheduled time or the time the match is announced, whichever

is later. If you are not present at the table with your equipment within fifteen minutes after the start

time you lose the match by forfeit. Both players should be at the table or in communication with

one another before the match begins.

Shot Clock:

World Standardized rules call for a One Minute standard for each shot. If a time out is called the

amount of time then becomes two minutes. If a player is taking longer than this, they are violating

the rules. The opponent may inform the shooter of this and, if it continues, call the League Director

for a ruling. At that point, both players may be placed on a 1 minute shot clock and failure to shoot

within one minute will result in a foul and ball in hand for the opponent.

Calling Fouls:

A player may call a foul on his or her opponent, but the shooter is the final judge of a foul.

(Example: Jim calls a foul on Tom because he thinks there was a double hit when Tom made his

shot. If Tom says it was not a double hit then it is not a foul as the call goes to the shooter.) At any

time, a player may request a 3rd

party to watch a particular shot to insure an accurate ruling. The 3rd

party ruling is then the final say and may not be overturned. Spectators and coaches may not tell

shooter of a foul, and it is a foul to do so. It is the responsibility of the players to watch the game.

Questionable Calls:

If a rule question arises during the course of play, it is the responsibility of both team captains to

assess the situation, consult the rules, and decide on the proper course of action. If a consensus

decision cannot be made (i.e. the two captains do not agree) the League Director will be brought in

to arbitrate the call. The decision by the League Director is final and binding regardless of whether

or not that ruling is correct.

A Player Requesting to Play All Four Games:

Should a player need to play all four of his/her games rather than in an alternating league format,

this is to be allowed only if the two team Captains agree. No player will be allowed to play

consecutive games in a match more than once per month without approval of both Captains

and the League Director, who may add stipulations to his approval.

Money owed to League:

Effective January 2017: Any team that is consistently late paying league fees, will have an

amount equal to 1 ½ times of the highest amount owed during the session deducted from any prize

money that team is owed. Money will be held by the league operator and returned at the end of the

next session in which team complies with league policies concerning weekly player fees.